Agapetus II

Who he was

Agapetus was a Roman, elected on 10 May 946 while Alberic still ruled the city. Although the popes had lost almost all temporal power, his name and virtue were respected across Christendom.

What he is remembered for

He worked steadily to restore discipline in churches and monasteries, settled the troubles in the see of Reims, and backed Otto the Great's plans to bring the faith to the pagan North. He joined Italian nobles in asking Otto to come into Italy to end its disorder. Before he died Alberic made the Romans swear to elect his son Octavian, the future John XII, as his successor.

Sources

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1907): Pope Agapetus II
• New Catholic Encyclopedia: Popes, List of (dates from the Annuario Pontificio 2001)